Saxco’s Eight Decades of Market Leadership and Expertise in Wine, Beer, Spirits and Food Packaging Create Unique Platform for Sustained Growth 

January 4, 2019 GREENWICH, Conn. — Atlas Holdings LLC announced today that it has acquired Saxco International, LLC (“Saxco”), the leading North American value-added distributor of rigid packaging to the wine, spirits, craft beer, and food markets. Saxco offers a broad range of products and services including glass, metal, and plastic containers, capsules, closures, custom packaging and mold development. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Saxco was founded in 1936 and led for many years by Herb and Keith Sachs before being acquired by The Sterling Group in 2010. Today, the company’s dedicated professionals serve a loyal customer base of more than 5,000 wineries, distillers, brewers and specialty food manufacturers across North America. These customers include some of the premier beverage brands in the world. Saxco’s broad product line and distribution capabilities are complemented by a differentiated suite of other services, from brand and packaging design to warehouse and logistics management. Its expertise in glass, for example, is a clear differentiator compared to the other large distributors.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Saxco to the Atlas family of distribution and manufacturing businesses,” said Sam Astor, partner at Atlas Holdings. “Saxco’s proud heritage and sector expertise position the company well for sustained growth, particularly as specialty brands and craft producers gain market share across all beverage categories. There are eight times as many breweries in the U.S. as there were a decade ago, and seven times as many distilleries. The number of wineries during this period has also continued to grow steadily. Saxco’s leadership team and dedicated workforce will now have the added capital and support to meet this growing demand by delivering value-added, superior customer service.”

“This exciting new partnership with Atlas signals the start of the next great chapter in the Saxco legacy,” said Saxco CEO Guy Marsala. “Atlas’ proven record of investing the human and financial capital to strengthen fundamentally strong businesses is a perfect fit for where Saxco is today. The future of our business got brighter today, and we’re thrilled to seize the many opportunities ahead.”

About Saxco International, LLC

Saxco International, LLC, “Your clear choice for premium packaging solutions” has more than 80 years of industry experience providing a broad range of packaging products and services to the wine, spirits, craft beer and food industries. It offers a broad range of rigid packaging products including glass, metal, and plastic containers, capsules, closures, custom packaging and mold development. Headquartered in Concord, California, it has over 250 associates and more than a dozen customer support and fulfillment centers throughout the United States, Canada and China.

For additional information, please visit www.saxco.com.

About Atlas Holdings LLC

Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut and founded in 2002, Atlas and its affiliates own and operate 17 platform companies which employ more than 21,000 associates at more than 200 facilities worldwide. Atlas operates in sectors such as aluminum processing, automotive, building materials, capital equipment, construction services, paper and packaging, power generation, pulp, supply chain management and wood products. Atlas’ companies together generate more than $5 billion dollars in revenues annually. 

For additional information, please visit www.atlasholdingsllc.com.

Saxco International, LLC today announced that it has acquired Square Peg Packaging and Printing, LLC. Saxco is the market leader in the distribution of rigid packaging for the liquor wine and beer industries. Saxco’s partnerships with North American manufacturers and unparalleled sourcing capabilities result in a wide array of customized glass, plastic and closure packaging solutions for their customers. 

Square Peg Packaging and Printing, LLC designs and supplies glass containers and a variety of customized packaging materials and commercial printing.  Square Peg’s products serve the brewing and beverage, electronics, food processing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and general manufacturing industries.  The company also provides value added services such as assembly, kitting, contract packaging, design and prototyping.  Square Peg delivers innovative marketing ideas and specializes in improving brand differentiation and consistency for its clients.  Founded in 2007, the company has been listed on the national Inc Magazine Fastest Growing Private Companies list for the past four years and operates facilities in San Diego, CA and Phoenix, AZ.

“Square Peg is an exciting addition to the Saxco team. It solidifies our strategy for custom packaging and services for the beer and beverage industry in Southern California. The Square Peg team brings with them particular expertise in printing and contract packaging that is truly additive to our model”, stated Matthew Malenfant, CEO of Saxco.   “We look forward to integrating that expertise with the Saxco scale and services to bring even greater value to our mutual customers.”

John Kellogg, President of Square Peg, stated, “Square Peg is thrilled to join forces with Saxco. Together, we have the ability to take our customers’ branding to the next level and deliver creative ideas to differentiate them in an increasingly crowded retail environment.”

Financial details of this acquisition remain confidential.

Saxco International LLC Assists Dogfish Head Distilling Co. with the Creation of a Unique and Beautiful Package Design for Its New Spirits Portfolio

Utilizing new American-made copper stills, an overall handcrafted characteristic approach and veteran Master Distiller Graham Hamblett, Dogfish Head Distilling Co., of Milton, Delaware is expanding its scratch-made spirits line with the introduction of Dogfish Head Analog Vodkaâ„¢, Dogfish Head Compelling Ginâ„¢ and Dogfish Head Whole Leaf Ginâ„¢.

To help create a unique and beautiful package which would be commensurate with the quality taste and rich goodness of its new premium vodka and gins, it called upon Saxco International, LLC, of Horsham, PA, world-wide packaging specialists for the wine, spirits, beer and food industries and its vast global resource network to assist. “Our role was to help create an attractive and colorful new package that would also deliver a bold and distinctive shelf appearance and bring the project to fruition within the required timeline and budget parameters, “says Christian Maute, Saxco’s Mid-Atlantic sales manager, who coordinated with Saxco’s Eric Guli, project manager of supply chain on the Dogfish Head Distilling spirits project. Saxco’s Product Designer Nina Leshyk also worked with Maute and Guli on the project.

Moving the project forward working closely with the Dogfish Head Distilling Co.’s design and marketing team, Saxco helped to create a high quality private mold square shaped flint 750 ML bottle for the three new spirits with flat shoulders and a premium thick glass base. Saxco then provided a reliable time-tested overseas source to produce the bottle which incorporates a prominent embossed Dogfish Head logo on its right hand side. The glass manufacturer also completed the heat applied unique two-color pictorial graphics on the front of the bottles. These concepts and designs were done by Dogfish Head Lead Designer Tim Parrott. Parrott also provided the graphic designs for the pressure sensitive two color labels which are applied above the heat applied graphics.

The bottle was finished off with a Mahogany wood top synthetic cork which was over-fitted with a tamper evident tax stripe.

Dogfish Head’s new state-of-the-art distillery in in the heart of its Milton, DE campus, gives Head Distiller Graham Hamblett access to the same quality ingredients, brewing expertise and equipment used to make Dogfish Head off-centered ales. At the heart of the distilling operation are two 500-gallon copper stripping stills and a 250-gallon copper vodka column sourced from fourth-generation custom fabricator Vendome Copper & Brass Works in Louisville, Kentucky.

“As I travel, one request I hear over and over again from our beer consumers is, ‘When are you going to step up the spirits program and take Dogfish Head’s off-centered approach to a wider audience’?”, related Dogfish Head Founder and President Sam Calagione. “Well, over the last year we’ve made the right investments and the answer is now.”

“You can make spirits from almost any type of raw material. We have chosen to start with the same ingredients that go into our beer,” says Hamblett, a horticulturist with nearly two decades of experience running an artisanal winery and distillery. “In our process, everything starts in in its rawest form, from scratch and we use the best ingredients available. We use a batch distillation approach through each stage. It’s a bit more work than other approaches, but it allows me to closely monitor and control each step of the distillation process.”

The first spirits to debut with the off-centered approach are Dogfish Head Analog Vodka, Dogfish Head Compelling Gin and Whole Leaf Gin. Made with 100 percent brewers malt and proprietary “Doggie” yeast, Analog Vodka is 80-proof and embodies Dogfish Head’s 20-year commitment to quality and creativity. It’s crisp, with viscous sweetness of caramelized sugar, malted barley with cleaning minerality, a sipping vodka for whiskey drinkers. Suggested retail price is $32.99 for the 750 ML size.

Dogfish Head Compelling Gin is 88-proof and is distilled using the peel and flesh of citrus and a long list of culinary ingredients stolen from the Dogfish Head brewpub kitchen. Compelling Gin is bright and citrusy, with a crisp juniper snap and lingering cinnamon warmth, a culinary inspired gin. Suggested retail price is $36.99 for the 750 ML size.

Dogfish Head Whole Leaf Gin is 90 proof and continually doses whole-leaf hops into each step of the gin distillation process. This is an earthy gin with a drying coolness, yet bursting with floral hop goodness, the IPA of spirits. Suggested retail price is $38.99 for the 750 ML size.

“What we’re seeing is that consumers are looking for the same ‘goodness’ out of their craft spirits that have led them to explore craft beer,” says Dogfish Head Distillery Manager James Montero. “They want a high-quality distilled spirit and an honest authentic approach wrapped in an interesting story.” Currently available in Delaware, the new spirits will soon be introduced in several Mid-Atlantic states. For additional information, contact Dogfish Head Distilling Co. at 302-684-1000 or visit them on the web at www.dogfish.com.

About Saxco International, LLC

Saxco International, LLC, “Your clear choice for premium packaging solutions,” has more than 30 years of industry experience, providing a broad range of packaging products and services to the liquor, wine, beer and food industries. The company’s products and services include expert consultation from design to development, as well as customized services for packing. Saxco is headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with offices and warehouses in Louisville, Kentucky, Concord and Napa, California, Portland, Oregon, Tampa, Florida, Toronto, Ontario, Cincinnati, Ohio, Mountainside, New Jersey, Statesville, North Carolina, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Denver, Colorado and Qingdao, China. For additional information call 215-443-8100, fax 215-443-8370 or on the web at www.saxco.com.

Rick Schwartz has been appointed as Senior Vice President/General Manager for all product lines for the East Coast and Canadian regions for Saxco International, LLC, it was announced today.

A top executive, with more than 30 years of business experience in sales, marketing, e-business services, purchasing and operations, he will be directly responsible for the overall management of the East Coast United States and Canadian regions encompassing all product lines of the world-wide packaging specialty company serving the wine, spirits, beer and food packaging industries. His responsibilities will include the total profit and loss for both regions, as well as the management and supervision of sales and marketing, operations and purchasing functions.

Prior to being appointed at Saxco International, he was employed for 20 years in numerous executive capacities by VWR International, LLC, of Radnor, PA, a leading global provider of products, services and solutions to laboratory and production facilities in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, industrial, education, government and healthcare industries with sales in excess of $4.3 billion. His most recent position was as Vice President of Business Development. Before that, he served as Vice President, General Manager, Service and Vice President of Sales Operations, Vice President of Global Accounts and Vice President of e-Business.

He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and completed a Strategic & Timely Decision Making Program at the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania. He also participated in business development courses at Baxter Management Institute, the Center For Service Leadership Council at Arizona State University and the Lean Six Sigma Executive Review at GENEDGE (Virginia Tech University). He is a resident of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

About Saxco International, LLC

Saxco International, LLC, “Your clear choice for premium packaging solutions,” has more than 30 years of industry experience, providing a broad range of packaging products and services to the liquor, wine, beer and food industries. The company’s products and services include expert consultation from design to development, as well as customized services for packing. Saxco is headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with offices and warehouses in Louisville, Kentucky, Concord and Napa, California, Portland, Oregon, Tampa, Florida, Toronto, Ontario, Cincinnati, Ohio, Mountainside, New Jersey, Statesville, North Carolina, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Denver, Colorado and Qingdao, China. For additional information call 215-443-8100, fax 215-443-8370 or on the web at www.saxco.com.

Moving to upgrade the image of its premium Farm-Crafted Potato Vodka, Beattie’s Distillery, of Alliston, Ontario in Canada is refreshing its packaging with a bold new look.

To help create the innovative and dynamic new packaging for its popular premium spirit, it called upon Saxco Canada, of Oakville, Ontario, worldwide packaging specialists for the wine, spirits, beer and food industries and its global resource network to assist with the project. Saxco Canada is a division of Saxco International, LLC, of Horsham, PA.

“Our role was to help Beattie’s create a beautiful new package with an attractive overall appearance and a distinctive shelf prominence which is commensurate with the vodka’s premium quality, silky smooth finish and unique taste,” states Martin Halle, Saxco account manager for Eastern Canada. “We tried to make it as turnkey as possible and bring it all together on time and within budget parameters.”

Halle worked closely with Liz Beattie, Chief Operating Officer of Beattie’s Distillery and its in house graphics design and product team to bring the new package into the Canadian marketplace. To move the project forward, Saxco Canada sourced and supplied a high quality 750 ML private mold tapered flint bottle with a medium neck, rounded shoulders and a thick bottom from a high end, reliable overseas resource partner. The Beattie’s name was embossed in the front of the bottle.

Saxco also provided an attractive walnut colored wood top synthetic cork assembly from one of its time tested European supply sources. In addition, the packaging specialty company also sourced and supplied a decorative hang tag which over-fitted the neck adding to the bottle’s overall eye catching appeal.

Beattie’s provided a multi-colored front label accented in black, red and green type and a colorful tamper evident seal to finish off the refreshed new package. The labels and tamper evident seals were sourced through ASL of Vaughan, Ontario.

“Our goal was to create a heightened interest for our premium Farm-Crafted Potato Vodka by giving it an attractive new and refreshed image for an increased notoriety among our target audiences,” explains Liz Beattie, COO of Beattie’s. “We’re trying to attract wider attention from Vodka connoisseurs in the 25 to 49-years age range who enjoy urban and suburban living with a finer appreciation of better quality products.”

“Making our vodka is a difficult process,” says Beattie. “We peel every single potato to make sure we only mash the heart of the vegetable. We then distill our own spring water to remove any impurities that may occur. We are so confident in the quality of our potatoes, our master distiller and our equipment, we need only to distill it once. We also only filter our product once. Our Potato Vodka is the only gluten free vodka available.”

The Beattie’s premium Farm-Crafted Potato Vodka is 40-percent Alcohol By Volume and is being distributed in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and New Brunswick in Canada. Cost for a 750 Ml size is $34.95 (Canadian dollars).

For additional Information, call Beattie’s Distillery at 705-434-7840 or visit them on the web at www.beattiesdistillers.com.  

Saxco Canada is located at 2360 Cornwall Road, Oakville, Ontario Canada and may be reached at 1-905-271-5700.

About Saxco International : Saxco International, LLC, “Your clear choice for premium packaging solutions,” has more than 30 years of industry experience, providing a broad range of packaging products and services to the liquor, wine, beer and food industries. The company’s products and services include expert consultation from design to development, as well as customized services for packing. Saxco is headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with offices and warehouses in Louisville, Kentucky, Concord and Napa, California, Portland, Oregon, Toronto, Ontario, Atlanta, Georgia, Norfolk, Virginia, Cincinnati, Ohio, Mountainside, New Jersey, Statesville, North Carolina, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Traverse City, Michigan, Denver, Colorado and Qingdao, China. For additional information call 215-443-8100, fax 215-443-8370 or on the web at www.saxco.com.

Kevin Brownrigg has been appointed as a regional sales manager for Saxco International, LLC, it was announced here today by Rob Belke, vice president of sales. He will be directly responsible for the day-to-day sales functions and new business development for Saxco customers in the beer, wine, spirits and food industries located in the Midwestern region of the United States.

Brownrigg joins Saxco International with almost 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and technical services with a strong working knowledge of the packaging industry from package and product development to manufacturing efficiency and filling line operations. His most recent position was as a consultant for Act International in Ormond Beach, FL consulting for packaging and start-up companies.

Prior to that he served as director of business development for Pelliconi in Orlando, FL covering the United States, Canada and the Caribbean regions working with crowns and other closures for the craft beer and beverage markets. Before that, he was head of new business development responsible for closure sales to Coca Cola in the United States, Canada and Latin America for Obrist Americas in Ormond Beach, FL.

In addition, he was previously employed as a senior regional account manager for Owens-Illinois/Graham Packaging in Ormond Beach, FL, and senior account manager and manager of product performance/technical sales for Constar Plastics in Philadelphia, PA.

Brownrigg received a bachelor’s of arts degree in communications from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

HORSHAM, PA (October 5, 2016) - Saxco International, LLC  announced here today that it has acquired Brick Packaging Corporation, of Traverse City, MI. Saxco International is a market leader in the distribution of rigid packaging for the liquor, wine, beer and food industries. Saxco’s partnerships with North American manufacturers and unparalleled sourcing capabilities result in a wide array of customized glass, plastic and closure packaging solutions for its customers.

Brick Packaging Corporation is built on its ability to cater to the wine  industry by anticipating and meeting its customers’ packaging requirements. The packaging distribution specialty company is founded on the principles of quality, integrity and customer service and works to fulfill packaging needs efficiently, effectively and within budget and time parameters. Brick Packaging also specializes in offering custom solutions for out of the ordinary and specialty product runs.

“Brick Packaging is an exciting addition to the Saxco team”, states Matthew Malenfant, CEO of Saxco International. “It enhances our strategy for custom packaging services to the wine industry in Michigan and surrounding Midwestern states. “The Brick Packaging team brings with it a solid and highly notable expertise in packaging for the wine industry that smoothly blends with our model. We look forward to integrating that expertise with the Saxco scale and services to bring even greater value to our mutual customers.”

“After the long process of determining that I wanted to sell Brick Packaging, it was critical for me to find a company that would value our employees and customers,” says Dan Brick, President/Owner. “After many conversations with Saxco International, I feel confident that I have achieved my goals.”

Financial details of the acquisition remain confidential.

About Saxco International, LLC

Saxco International, LLC, “Your clear choice for premium packaging solutions,” has more than 30 years of industry experience, providing a broad range of packaging products and services to the liquor, wine, beer and food industries. The company’s products and services include expert consultation from design to development, as well as customized services for packing. Saxco is headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with offices and warehouses in Louisville, Kentucky, Concord and Napa, California, Portland, Oregon, Tampa, Florida, Toronto, Ontario, Cincinnati, Ohio, Mountainside, New Jersey, Statesville, North Carolina, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Denver, Colorado and Qingdao, China. For additional information call 215-443-8100, fax 215-443-8370 or on the web at www.saxco.com.

For Further Media Information: Stu Coren, ROSEN COREN AGENCY, 215-741-2003

Ragged Branch Whiskey, of Charlottesville, Virginia is introducing its new premium Virginia Straight Bourbon Wheat and Rye Whiskeys to American whiskey drinkers in the Virginia area marketplace.

To assist with the all-important packaging component for its new premium spirits, it brought Saxco International, LCC, of Horsham, PA, worldwide packaging specialists for the wine, spirits, beer and food industries and its vast global resource network into the mix. “Our role was to help create a distinctive and innovative package with beautiful overall eye appeal and a stand out shelf presence and complete the project within the pre-stated time and budget parameters,” states Christian Maute, Mid-Atlantic sales manager for Saxco International. Maute and Nina Leshyk, Saxco’s digital design specialist worked closely with Alex Toomy, principal of Ragged Branch Whiskey and his design team to help move the project from initial design phase to market ready reality.

To move the project along, Saxco sourced and supplied a quality private mold 750 ML flint cylindrical bottle with a taper, long neck with fluting half way up and a thick bottom. The bottle came from a long time reliable overseas supply source in Saxco’s global network. The packaging design specialty company also sourced and supplied attractive custom natural cork mahogany wood top  assembly closures for both versions from a long associated quality supply partner in Portugal.

In addition, Saxco supplied custom capsules which over fitted the cork assemblies, green for the rye and red for the wheat version from a vendor in France. Both were imprinted with black lettering.

The bottles were finished off with custom black, red and gold labels with white lettering which were created by Rugged Branch Whiskey’s graphic designer, Tia Baker and produced and supplied by John Napotnik of ID Technology, a North American supply source.

Ragged Branch Whiskey Straight Virginia Bourbons are being targeted at American whiskey lovers with active lifestyles 30-years old and above. “Ragged Branch Straight Virginia Bourbon is a passion for us,” says Toomy. “We use only local, sustainable and environmentally sourced products to craft our authentic style bourbon whiskey.”

Click here for more information. 

Saxco gives you all the choices you need to pour the same care and expertise into your packaging as you do for your vintages. A trusted and sophisticated wine market partner, Saxco can cultivate your brand to stand out on the shelf. Options range from high-end, differentiated packages to cost-leading standard designs. No matter the package, Saxco experts will work with you to understand your needs and match our operational capabilities to your supply chain requirements. Saxco market experience: boutique, mid-market Estate, negotiant, and commercial wineries.

Products & Services

• glass bottles
• oak barrels & oak additives
• wine shippers
• graphic cartons
• gift packs
• assembly services
• retail displays
• corks
• closures
• custom packaging
• labels and decorating
• capsules
• value add packs

New Products

Saxco has added barrels, corks, and zorks to our product portfolio. Available from Brick Packaging, a Saxco International Company.

Click here for more information. 

The inspiration behind Boony Doon Vineyard’s wine in a can La Bulle-Moose was a bit of an iterative process. First, decisions had to be made on the brand name and how it would tie into their brand legacy. After rounds of discussions they decided to tie into their existing “Cigare” brand because the wine is in fact made from 100% Rhône varieties. Bulle is French for “bubble” and it was only a matter of time before the words Bulle and Mousse were conjoined by the Bonny Doon Proprietor, Randall Grahm. The team at BDV finally agreed on the name La Bulle-Moose and felt it was a great representation of the product inside the can. Randall shares that he always greatly resisted the idea of “critter wines,” and swore he would never have a critter on the label of a BDV product, but when Chuck House, BDV’s package designer, showed him the iconic bull moose on the can, he was sold. It really seemed to stand out on a shelf (maybe it’s the vibrant pink color).

When choosing a can supplier, BDV’s packaging team needed flexibility and responsiveness to accommodate the evolving lead times and volume fluctuations while hitting critical production and quality deadlines. Saxco sales representative Mario Guerra stepped in with the perfect hybrid solution of sleeved cans, just-in-time delivery programs, and inventory management solutions – all geared toward insuring BVD hit each key business objectives with the launch of La Bulle-Moose.

With the immediate success of La Bulle-Moose, Randall now agrees cans are a natural container for lower pressure fizzy beverages, as far as convenience and lower carbon footprint. It is also not entirely lost on Randall that BDV can benefit from gaining visibility among a younger demographic, and it is possible that wine in cans might well accomplish that.

What’s next for Bonny Doon? Randall shares,” We have certainly had our share of wacky packages/labels over the years; the job in the future will be to somehow convey through the high artistic standards of the package the equivalent level of fastidiousness/gravitas that has gone into the production of the wine itself.” Through the lens of this wine industry innovator, we can all look forward to a bright and bubbly future in wine packaging, and Saxco will be the partner to help insure his visions become a reality. 

For more information click here.

With a challenging harvest, ongoing industry headwinds, and the recent resolution of the US election, the world is still adjusting to what has become a continuously evolving “new normal” since COVID-19. The supply chain now braces for potential uncertainties surrounding a new administration. 

Concerns about rising fuel expenses are becoming more pronounced, with diesel prices experiencing a modest increase of approximately three cents on average across the US, as reported by the EIA. This uptick is causing anxiety among businesses that rely heavily on transportation to maintain their supply chains. On a more positive note, there is significant relief in international shipping. The cost of ocean freight from Asia to the US has seen a remarkable decline, with container shipping fees plummeting by $1,000 to $2,000.

The International Longshoremen’s Association recently conducted a brief but impactful three-day strike at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts. This work stoppage concluded with a tentative wage agreement, extending the existing contract until January 15th. Jonathan Gold, Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy at the National Retail Federation (NRF), warns that although this strike was resolved quickly, the potential for a more prolonged strike looms if a new labor contract is not secured by January. In anticipation of possible future disruptions, companies are taking pre-emptive measures. Many are expediting their shipments and redirecting cargo to West Coast ports as a strategic move to avoid expected congestion and delays that could arise from ongoing labor negotiations. These proactive steps reflect the ongoing uncertainty in the supply chain landscape.

A persistent issue is the ongoing closure of glass furnaces. O-I has shuttered its Illinois plant and R&D center, adding pressure on glass supply. However, there is some good news: Arglass has opened a new facility with a beer bottle-focused furnace in Valdosta, Georgia. With significant leadership changes among major glass manufacturers, it is yet to be seen if these new executives will bring fresh strategies or continue with the status quo.

While the election’s impact on tariffs remains unclear, it’s essential for anyone sourcing international glass to consider alternative US suppliers or secure guaranteed imports, especially given the uncertain trade landscape with key countries like China and Mexico.

Bottled Tidbits - Meet Sir Kenelm Digby, a true historical maverick. Haunted by the memory of his father, executed as a co-conspirator with Guy Fawkes, Digby carried what he called a “stain on his soul.” But his life was anything but ordinary. As a licensed privateer (a pirate with a royal seal of approval), he escaped a forced marriage to a French princess and poured his energy into an eclectic array of pursuits. A natural-born polymath, Digby wrote a book of bizarre remedies, including a plague “cure” mixing sherry with sheep stomach contents and a headache remedy – “Viper Wine” with real venom – which tragically proved fatal for his wife.

Digby’s curiosity only grew, leading him to co-found the Royal Society. Teaming up with Admiral Sir John Mansell, a scheming MP and coal magnate, the two orchestrated a crafty plan. Mansell passed a law that banned wood-fired furnaces to “save trees for the Royal Navy,” conveniently driving the glass industry to rely on his coal. Digby developed a new glass formula to meet the coal's higher heat, resulting in far sturdier bottles.

Meanwhile, fellow Royal Society member Christopher Merret was experimenting with wines, discovering that adding sugar and molasses made wine sparkle. With Digby’s durable bottles, Merret’s sparkling wine idea became feasible, setting the stage for the world’s first sparkling wine. Together, Digby and Merret’s innovations reshaped wine forever, creating a legacy that still sparkles today.

Check out Ciatti's November California report here: https://ciatticompany.substack.com/p/ciatti-california-report-november.

We are committed to keeping you informed about the latest industry changes that could affect your business operations. As we all continue to navigate the ongoing uncertainties surrounding US tariff investigations, it is important to understand the implications of the immediate and continued supply and demand imbalances and how the manufacturing industry must consider aligning capacity to the broader market. 

The Department of Commerce is set to announce its Anti-Dumping Preliminary Determination concerning imported glass wine bottles and similar containers (740ml-760ml) from China, Mexico, and Chile on July 29th. Following the Department’s May 29th Preliminary Determinations for Countervailing Duties against China, which necessitate cash deposits ranging from 21.14% to 202.70%, the outcome of these investigations could significantly influence market dynamics with immediate impacts to costs and longer-term implications on a rebalancing of manufacturing capacity and lead times.

In response to the supply and demand imbalances, Ardagh Group has publicly disclosed its decision to close its glass facility in Houston and idle furnaces in Seattle. These strategic moves reflect evolving market conditions and required operational adjustments within the sector.  It is unclear at this time if there will be further changes to domestic glass manufacturing capacity. Story here: Global bottle maker lays off hundreds in Seattle | The Seattle Times.

Peak beverage season is upon us for aluminum cans and is driving longer than usual lead times for sleeving and digital print options which are typically for smaller quantities and short lead time orders.

The packaging market continues to face inflationary pressure. Corrugated packaging price increases have been announced as increases in containerboard and kraft paper have impacted the market. Diesel fuel prices have risen by 1% since May, adding to operational costs across the supply chain. Equally concerning is the rapid increase in ocean freight rates from Asia, skyrocketing from $2,000 per container in January to nearly $7,000 in June. Red Sea piracy has compounded shipping challenges between Asia and Europe, driving up insurance rates and contributing to shipping congestion. As a result, there are reports of port delays in the Asian market due to congestion and logistical bottlenecks.

As these situations unfold, we remain vigilant in monitoring developments and their potential implications for your business. Stay tuned for further updates as we navigate through these dynamic times together.

In summary, this month will be critical for illuminating the bottling challenges and availability for the 2024 bottling season. If you are risk-averse or have limited sourcing options, you should be proactive in your procurement process in July.

As seen in Ciatti's July Market Report. 

Concord, CA (February 26, 2020)– John Berry, Chief Executive Officer of Saxco, the leading North American value-added distributor of rigid packaging to the wine, spirits, craft beer and food markets, issued the following statement regarding the Department of Commerce (DOC)’s announcement that it has determined that Chinese foreign subsidies exist and are countervailable:

“Saxco is prepared and ready to support companies impacted by the Department of Commerce’s determination. A cornerstone to Saxco for over 80 years has been our ability to provide customers with flexibility and an assurance of supply. Saxco is the largest glass bottle distributor in the country and has many longstanding and significant relationships with domestic and international manufacturing partners. This gives us immediate access to capacity and supply, and in turn, positions us to help companies deal with any issues caused by today’s determination.               

Saxco’s history and expertise in glass is a clear differentiator compared to the other distributors. Our diverse supply options and commitment to providing innovative customer solutions ensure Saxco has the infrastructure and capabilities to offer a stable and reliable supply chain to our customers.”

Effective immediately, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) will begin to collect subsidy duty cash deposits from importers of Chinese glass containers at the time of importation. The preliminary subsidy duty rates vary by company, but the largest supplier rates range from 22.60% to 23.25%, with certain Chinese manufacturers receiving rates as high as 315.73%. These new duty deposits are in addition to the existing tariffs (25%) on glass containers from China. A fact sheet regarding this decision can be found at the following DOC site: https://legacy.trade.gov/enforcement/news.asp.

The new duty deposits will increase again in April 2020 if the DOC preliminary finds dumping (e.g., pricing below normal value) in a parallel antidumping duty (AD) investigation. In October 2020, if the investigations result in AD and/or countervailing duty (CVD) duty orders, duties will continue to be imposed for at least five years, with the possibility that the duties would continue for successive five-year periods.

About Saxco

At Saxco International, LLC, our mission is to “package customers’ dreams.” With more than 80 years of industry experience providing a broad range of packaging products and services to the wine, spirits, craft beer and food industries, Saxco offers a broad range of rigid packaging products including glass, metal, and plastic containers, capsules, closures, custom packaging and mold development. Headquartered in Concord, California, Saxco has a vast network of customer support and fulfillment centers operating throughout the United States, Canada and Asia. For additional information, please contact us at glass@saxco.com.

Saxco, a leading provider of packaging solutions to the wine, spirits, beer and beverage industries, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Revino, a pioneer in reusable wine bottle systems, to deliver sustainable glass packaging choices for wine producers throughout the United States. The collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to environmental responsibility and innovation within the wine industry. 

Saxco has been at the precipice of innovative packaging solutions since its inception over 90 years ago. Continuing in its legacy, Saxco is now an official distributor partner of Revino’s acclaimed reusable wine bottles. The company has seen broad adoption with more than 100 winery partners and over one million bottles in circulation. Revino’s platform simplifies adoption of proven reuse models, helping wineries significantly reduce their environmental footprint without sacrificing brand integrity. Working with Saxco provides wineries with the benefits of logistical planning, redundancy of supply and hands-on packaging support from dedicated experts.

Packaging is the most carbon-taxing element of the winemaking process. Revino's returnable and reusable glass bottles provide up to 85% emissions reductions compared to standard single-use bottles, and are carbon neutral after three reuses, while suitable for up to 50 reuses.

These glass bottles provide wineries with meaningful cost savings, thanks to tariff-free manufacturing in the United States and their ability to be sanitized and reused. They reduce landfill waste while meeting increasing industry demand and regulatory requirements like Extended Producer Responsibility legislation. By adopting these practices, Saxco helps wineries participate in the circular glass economy, build operational resilience, and distinguish their brand. These sustainability commitments not only achieve environmental and financial goals but also appeal strongly to younger consumers, who prefer eco-friendly brands and are driving market trends toward transparency and responsible business practices.

"The partnership between Saxco and Revino reinforces our commitment to delivering sophisticated, sustainable packaging options to our wine customers," said Stephanie Ramczyk, Vice President, Wine Division at Saxco. "We’re thrilled to offer reusable wine bottles that align with their brand objectives and sustainability goals."

Adam Rack, Co-founder at Revino, added, "Partnering with Saxco allows us to expand the availability of circular packaging solutions to producers of every scale. Together, we are advancing the future of wine packaging with systems that prioritize sustainability without compromising on artisan quality."

Another month of calm

November typically marks the end of a new harvest and the middle of our busiest sales quarter. October’s government shutdown created unbelievable market uncertainty. But with the system back up and Thanksgiving almost normal, stability returned rather than the predicted surges or collapses by pundits from both sides. Still, questions remain about the future of our economic recovery prospects. For now, it is a reprieve, allowing us to regroup for the new year.

Market dynamics

The delayed reports from Commerce and the Bureau of Labor Statistics have started to trickle in, bringing some key takeaways:

• Unemployment is holding at 3.8%.
• Inflation easing to 2.3% YoY.
• Consumer spending down ~2% from Q3, but no hint of a cliff.

As we close out the year and look to 2026, the focus will be on staying agile in both supply planning and capturing winery sales and marketing opportunities. The key trends persist: Steady demand, no major swings, and a growing gap between spenders and cautious households. Next year’s success will depend on how quickly you read market dynamics and adjust. Who you target and how the market recovers will shape the effectiveness of your strategy.

Deloitte projects 3.5% growth in holiday spending. High-income households will spend 7% more, while lower-income households plan to spend 4% less. Lower-income households are turning to value products, while premium segments stay steady. Brands are dividing their manufacturing and marketing to address both groups.

Steady-going operationally

Packaging material deliveries for glass, cans, and closures in November were consistent, meeting the expected lead times without any notable delays or disruptions. Product quality and availability remained stable across all packaging types. Overseas freight costs for glass, cans, and closures eased slightly to $5,800 per container in November, down from $6,200 in October. While this is still above the roughly $4,500 level seen earlier in the year, there were no additional shipping bottlenecks or material shortages affecting packaging supply.

On the operational front, production trends held steady as well. Glass furnaces kept a steady pace in November.

In transportation, trends stayed similar to last month. Diesel sat at $3.42 a gallon, rail hit 94% on-time, ports stayed quiet, and trucking maintained usual booking windows. After the volatility of the last few years, these predictable patterns make that chaos feel distant.

The big date on the calendar is December 15th, when the anti-dumping and countervailing duty rulings finally land. Everyone is watching, but no one will be shocked by whatever the final judgment is. As year-end approaches, our main focus is the 2026 outlook.

Bottled Tidbits – The whole glass Christmas ornament thing actually started because of a challenging nut harvest. Go back in time to Lauscha, Germany, 1847, when a drought wiped out the nut harvest, which sounds small until you realize people literally hung nuts and fruits on their Christmas trees. No nuts, no ornaments, no holiday cheer.

The local glassblowers, already scrambling for side income, had to improvise. One of them, Hans Greiner, basically said, “If nature won’t give us nuts, I’ll just make them myself,” and started blowing glass versions. That simple workaround became the first generation of glass ornaments – better-looking and far more durable than the real thing.

Fast forward to 1880: Frank Winfield Woolworth is on a buying trip, sees these glass ornaments, and basically thinks: “No way Americans pay for this stuff”. He buys $25 worth just to try them out. They sell out in two days. Ten years later, he’s importing $800 million of glass ornaments annually. And Lauscha? It had turned into a full-on ornament powerhouse; 5,000 glassblowers making almost every Christmas ornament on Earth.

Here’s the most interesting part: The methods for making the ornaments became a nexus of innovation, pushing the entire glass industry forward. The silvering technique developed to make ornaments shine proved crucial for early vacuum bottles. And Max Eckardt’s machine from 1908 that crimped ornament caps? Bottle manufacturers took that idea and turned it into automated capping lines. Even the flashy metallic coatings you see on wine bottles today trace back to formulas created for Christmas baubles.

So this small German town, reacting to a poor fruit-and-nut harvest, ended up inventing much of the glass industry. It is a reminder that big leaps often come from refusing to accept, “That’s just how it is this year.” A useful perspective as we face tough headwinds.

A pause in the fever dream of instability

October arrived not with fanfare but with something rarer: Quiet. After a year of collective anticipation for more and more problems, what occurred was a respite. The tariffs are stalled, and the early indications from the Supreme Court suggest they are still in flux and will be a topic for discussion on a future date. Fuel costs have stabilized, as have ocean freight rates.

There is a peculiar quality to this pause. It is that in-between moment that makes it hard to understand if wineries should keep their guard up or, finally, tentatively lower their shoulders.

The glass half empty, half full

The supply chain in October was like a strange dance. Everything remained unchanged – neither improving dramatically nor deteriorating. Just... holding.

Diesel slipped from $3.748 to $3.679 per gallon, a decline so modest it barely registers as movement. But after months of upward pressure, even sideways feels like progress. Ocean rates hit bottom not from efficiency gains, but from demand that has gone soft. The ports are clear – no congestion, no drama – but there is an unsettling absence of urgency in the quiet.

And the furnaces? Still the bottleneck. Still, the constraint that defines everyone else’s tempo. Lead times stretch into 2026 like a horizon that keeps receding.

The tariff plot twist

Then came the surprise nobody saw coming. After months of escalation rhetoric, Washington and Beijing chose détente over disaster. The fentanyl tariff has been reduced from 20% to 10%. The threatened November escalation to 34%? Canceled. Both sides agreed to a 12-month ceasefire – not a peace agreement, but at least a cessation of hostilities.

China reciprocated: Counter-tariffs were suspended, promises of agricultural purchases were made, and rare earth exports continued.

For glass and packaging, this translates to something precious: Predictability. No sudden cost shocks. No scrambling to recalculate pricing models. Just a few months of knowing what the rules are and finding peace in the predictability.

The market mood

There is a psychological aspect to October that numbers alone cannot capture. After months of crisis management, stability feels almost suspicious. Buyers who have been conditioned to expect the worst are slowly and cautiously starting to plan beyond next quarter.

The smart money is already moving and securing furnace time through Q2, locking in rates before the inevitable rebound, converting uncertainty into strategy. They understand that in a market built on lead times measured in seasons, predictability is currency.

There’s an old glassblower’s saying: “The best time to shape glass is when it’s neither too hot nor too cold – but in that precise moment when it’s willing to bend without breaking.” We recommend using this quiet time to really leverage the market stability for better planning and purchasing.

Here’s to keeping the glass half full.

Bottled Tidbits - The Venetian glass monopoly and the Prison Island of Murano

In 1291, Venice relocated all its glassmakers to the island of Murano under the pretence of fire prevention. The true motive was industrial security – Venice had perfected “cristallo,” the world’s first truly clear glass, and paper-thin goblets that could twist like sugar.

Murano’s glassmakers lived like aristocrats. They gained immense wealth and were celebrated. Often, they were granted noble titles. However, their privilege was a gilded cage, and it came with a catch: No one was allowed to leave the island. Any glassmaker caught trying to share Venice’s secrets abroad risked a quiet death at the hands of the Venetian agents, and glass making moved from being a trade to a state secret.

The strategy proved remarkably effective. For 200 years, Venice controlled the European luxury glass market through this combination of incentive and intimidation. No other region could match Venetian clarity, thinness, or decorative techniques.

The monopoly was broken in the 1670s when several glassmakers successfully escaped to Vienna and London. They took with them centuries of accumulated knowledge. Within a generation, these defectors had established competing glass centers that not only matched Venetian quality but also began developing their own innovations, including English lead crystal and Bohemian potash glass. Venice’s dominance, which was maintained by years of secrecy rather than innovation, could not survive the spread of its carefully guarded techniques.

This month: Soft seas, more questions, and a consumer that’s anxious and cautious about tomorrow.

October’s here, and the supply chain feels eerily quiet. Not calm exactly – just slow. There is movement, but it’s more drift than direction. Freight rates are down, not because we have gotten more efficient, but because demand is low. Fuel is holding steady, but only because the broader economy seems reluctant to surge. There are no logjams at the ports, yet there is not much urgency, either.

Glass remains tight. Lead times are still creeping. And while retail shelves are being reset for the holiday sprint, the pace feels tentative. Brands are pushing forward, but many are doing so with a wary eye on cost, conversion, and the uncertain mood of the American shopper.

The story of October is about the tension between the inertia of supply and the jitteriness of demand. Between short-term calm and long-term concern.

Market overview

Fuel costs rose imperceptibly from $3.744 per gallon in August to $3.748 in September – barely a twitch on the needle, but still directionally up. More importantly, they have held within a narrow $3.70-$3.75 band for nearly a quarter, offering rare predictability in an otherwise jumpy economic landscape.

Ocean freight, on the other hand, continues to slide. Spot rates are now at their lowest level of the year, with demand falling below expectations from early summer. For some importers, this is a gift: Cheaper access, more expansive windows, fewer bottlenecks. But for others, especially those who bank on consistent movement, this softness is unsettling.

Port availability remains stable. No notable congestion. No major labor flare-ups. No climate shocks. It’s a rare pocket of neutrality in a system otherwise full of ifs and maybes.

Furnace capacity, however, remains a pressure point. The O-I Portland closure continues to cast a long shadow over domestic production. While the headlines have quieted, the knock-on effects persist – particularly for those relying on premium glass formats or just-in-time delivery windows.

Lead times are still stretched. Not wildly – but just enough to keep everyone on edge. There’s no slack in the system, no real room to play catch-up. Everything still takes more foresight than feels comfortable.

The consumer hesitates

Meanwhile, the consumer is still pulling back. Deloitte’s latest tracker has just landed, and the story remains unchanged. It’s not a precipitous drop, it’s just more erosion – a slow, quiet fade in confidence that keeps dragging on. Lower- and middle-income households are pulling back, especially in categories perceived as discretionary. Alcohol, specialty foods, and small indulgences are facing increased scrutiny, while essentials, promotions, and private-label goods are experiencing renewed strength.

There is also a psychological undercurrent: Shoppers aren’t just worried about now, but also uncertain about what’s next. Will tariffs drive prices up? Will Q1 bring layoffs or raises? Will a deal today look foolish tomorrow? These questions are not just background noise: They’re shaping cart sizes and channel choices in real time.

Retailers are responding by hedging their bets. Some are trimming holiday orders. Others are shifting toward value SKUs. Across the board, the expectation is that promotions will need to be both earlier and deeper to drive volume.

All of this is unfolding amid ongoing discussions about potential new tariffs on imported consumer goods and packaging materials. While the situation remains fluid, recent analyses suggest that the policy landscape could lead to some cost adjustments and operational pressures across retail and logistics. However, many industry leaders are already taking proactive steps to manage potential impacts through supply diversification, domestic sourcing, and strategic inventory planning. Whether or not the proposed measures move forward, the conversation is prompting thoughtful preparation rather than panic.

We get it, bottling season is chaotic, and hock bottles aren't top of mind. Avoid the last minute scramble and get your orders placed today. We have a variety of options to fit every budget. Whether you want to prioritize sustainability, domestic versus import, or even a custom mold - we've got you covered. 

Reach out today to get in touch with our team of product experts. Reach out today to get in touch with our team of product experts.

The packaging supply chain is sending mixed signals this month – not quite cause for alarm, but enough yellow lights to keep procurement teams on their toes.

Let’s start with the good news: fuel costs edged down from July's $3.779 to $3.744 per gallon in August. But before we celebrate, some context is needed. At $3.74+, we're still hovering near the year’s second-highest diesel levels. Think of it as taking your foot slightly off the accelerator while still speeding – technically slowing down, but hardly cruising speed. Fuel remains a critical watch point as we head into Q4 planning cycles.

Transportation continues to be our bright spot. For the second straight month, we're seeing no peak season surcharges – a welcome relief that’s providing both cost predictability and operational flexibility at a time when the industry needs both.

Port operations remain stable with no meaningful congestion on key inbound lanes. The anticipated summer import surge never materialized into the bottlenecks many feared, keeping goods flowing smoothly through our major gateways.

The glass situation, however, tells a different story. The OI Portland closure continues to cast a long shadow over domestic production capacity. With no new furnaces coming online to compensate, we are seeing increasingly concentrated demand pressure on remaining facilities, particularly in California and the Upper Midwest. This structural capacity gap is not going away anytime soon.

Lead times crept up again – a trend that’s becoming concerning as we approach harvest season and holiday production windows. It feels like the days of JIT (Just-In-Time) inventory are a fever dream of the past and are not clever ways to operate, definitely in today’s environment.

Consumer sentiment: A study in contradictions

Deloitte’s latest State of the US Consumer report reveals a fascinating paradox. American consumers are simultaneously anxious about their finances and determined to maintain their lifestyle – particularly when it comes to experiences and affordable luxuries. They’re tightening belts with one hand while reaching for premium products with the other.

For packaging strategists, this schizophrenic spending pattern creates the need for a newfound agility. It’s hard to predict demand when it can easily pivot sharply, especially for packaging that serves premium segments or special occasions. The consumer who skips the restaurant meal might still splurge on the premium bottle for home consumption.

The Bottom Line

We are operating in a market that looks stable on the surface – but is quietly fragile underneath. Fuel prices remain stubbornly high, domestic glass capacity is under pressure, and shifting consumer behavior means surprises are always on the table.

The supply environment may read as “narrowly neutral,” but that equilibrium is precarious. The smartest operators are building in flexibility now – because in a market like this, neutral can turn negative faster than you can say “supply chain disruption.”

Bottled Tidbits – Glass that can stop a bullet but shatters at a touch

In the strange world of glass, few phenomena are as baffling, or as beautiful, as Prince Rupert’s Drops. These tadpole-shaped beads of glass have puzzled scientists for over 400 years. Strike the bulbous head with a hammer or even a bullet, and they hold firm and can withstand forces up to 664,300 Newtons (nearly 67,740 kilograms). But tap the fragile tail with your fingertip, and the entire structure explodes into dust at almost the speed of sound.

They are formed by dripping molten glass into cold water. The outer shell cools rapidly and locks in extreme compressive forces – up to 700 megapascals, nearly 7,000 times atmospheric pressure. Meanwhile, the core remains under intense tension. This opposing force profile makes the exterior strong as steel, but the interior a ticking time bomb. Snap the tail, and cracks race inward at 1,900 meters per second (4,200+ mph), obliterating the drop in a violent instant.

Prince Rupert of the Rhine brought them to England’s King Charles II in 1660 as a scientific novelty; these “Dutch tears” would remain a mystery for centuries. It was not until 2017 that modern imaging revealed the actual mechanics behind their paradoxical strength – and fragility.

Prince Rupert’s gift to the king wasn’t just a conversation starter – it was accidentally the key to modern tempered glass. Those same internal stresses that made courtiers gasp in amazement now protect every skyscraper window and phone screen on the planet. It’s always amazing to find that the origins of some of the greatest modern materials were just accidental discoveries.

July's supply chain landscape feels deceptively calm, but the undercurrents are shifting. Fuel costs ticked upward again – $3.599 to $3.779 per gallon – putting quiet pressure on logistics, even as transportation costs eased with the surprising disappearance of peak season surcharges. That dip is a welcome but likely temporary reprieve. 

On the production side, capacity continues to tighten: OI’s Portland plant has officially closed, and two additional furnaces are scheduled to go offline, which continues to raise concerns about domestic supply heading into the back half of the year. Lead times have not budged from June’s elevated levels, but with fewer furnaces online, we are likely to see that stress compound by fall. Ports remain neutral, and overall supply feels steady – but for now, it is a still surface over increasingly strained infrastructure.

Tariff watch: The rules are changing

The new US tariff rates announced on July 31 mark a significant shift in the trade wind –particularly for glass and wine. EU imports are now subject to a 15% tariff on standard wine bottle sizes (375ml, 750ml, and 1L), a move that will reshape sourcing math for many in our industry. The new rate took hold August 7, but the old rates apply for goods that meet certain “on the water” criteria before August 7 and are entered for consumption before October 5. Still, any attempt to sidestep these costs through transshipment could trigger a brutal 40% penalty tariff, plus potential fines or penalties – no small risk for those trying to outmaneuver the system.

The aggregate US IEEPA tariffs on Indian glass increased to 25% on August 7 and will rise to 50% on August 27, while the aggregate US IEEPA tariffs on Chinese glass are still scheduled to increase from 30% to 54% on August 12 – unless a diplomatic off-ramp appears. In Canada, fentanyl-linked tariffs rose from 25% to 35% this month, though USMCA-origin goods remain safe.

Taken together, this constellation of tariff shifts signals a more complex and costly global market – especially for smaller-format bottles and price-sensitive products. Reports from the EU and New Zealand warn that boutique exporters may be among the hardest hit. For importers and bottlers in the US, strategic recalibration is no longer optional – it is now table stakes.

Consumer pulse: Value, redefined

Consumer behavior is shifting in ways that matter for packaging decisions. Deloitte’s latest numbers show over half of consumers have switched brands recently, but not necessarily to save money – they are chasing better value. There is a difference, and it shows up in purchase patterns. Nearly 40% plan to treat themselves to something small but meaningful this quarter, which keeps premium consumables in play if they justify the spend.

This nuance is especially relevant in categories like premium wine and spirits. Over half of consumers say they have recently switched brands to find better value. Not better pricing – better value. That could mean a more beautiful bottle, a more compelling backstory, or simply a product that feels like a reward. As mentioned, nearly 40% say they plan to indulge in something small but meaningful this quarter, which means there is still oxygen for premium formats – if they speak to the moment.

For glass customers, this is not a race to the bottom. It is an invitation to differentiate. In a value-driven world, quality, story, and detail still win.

Bottled Tidbits – Daylight robbery: The tax that dimmed the world

Before the 17th century, windows were not a structural standard – they were a status symbol. Glass was so rare that when Britain needed to raise funds in 1696, Parliament did not tax income or land. Instead, they taxed windows. It is a fact: homeowners were charged based on the number of glass panes they had. The result? A generation of buildings with bricked-up windows is still visible across parts of Europe today. It was known as a “tax on light and air,” and it is where we get the phrase "daylight robbery”.

Though repealed in 1851, the damage lingered: historical records show glass production between 1810 and 1851 was essentially flat, despite a housing boom. Only with mass manufacturing did both windows and bottles become widespread. Glass was not always everyday. Once upon a time, it was the dividing line between those who could look out and those who could not afford to.